If someone's behaviour or actions are sacrilegious, they show great disrespect towards something holy or towards something that people think should be respected.
A number of churches were sacked and sacrilegious acts committed.
Synonyms: profane, irreverent, blasphemous, unholy More Synonyms of sacrilegious
sacrilegious in British English
(ˌsækrɪˈlɪdʒəs)
adjective
1.
of, relating to, or involving sacrilege; impious
2.
guilty of sacrilege
Derived forms
sacrilegiously (ˌsacriˈlegiously)
adverb
sacrilegiousness (ˌsacriˈlegiousness)
noun
sacrilegious in American English
(ˌsækrəˈlɪdʒəs)
adjective
1.
that is or involves sacrilege
2.
guilty of sacrilege
Derived forms
sacrilegiously (ˌsacriˈlegiously)
adverb
sacrilegiousness (ˌsacriˈlegiousness)
noun
Examples of 'sacrilegious' in a sentence
sacrilegious
No, it's not being sacrilegious in the slightest... Listen to me Lou, it's what he would have wanted).
David Cavanagh MUSIC FOR BOYS (2003)
It's sort of sacrilegious to break up this peacefulness with gunfire.
James W. Huston THE SHADOWS OF POWER (2003)
(adjective)
Churches were sacked and sacrilegious acts committed.
Synonyms
profane
He had a reputation as profane and bad-tempered.
irreverent
blasphemous
works which they describe as blasphemous and obscene
unholy
He screamed unholy things at me.
desecrating
godless
a godless and alienated society
ungodly
My folks had nothing to do with ungodly people.
irreligious
The priest's conversational style was regarded as most irreligious.
impious
Additional synonyms
in the sense of blasphemous
works which they describe as blasphemous and obscene
Synonyms
irreverent,
cheeky (informal),
contemptuous,
profane,
disrespectful,
godless,
ungodly,
sacrilegious,
irreligious,
impious
in the sense of godless
Definition
not religious
a godless and alienated society
Synonyms
wicked,
depraved,
profane,
unprincipled,
atheistic,
ungodly,
irreligious,
impious,
unrighteous
in the sense of impious
Definition
showing a lack of respect or religious reverence
Synonyms
sacrilegious,
wicked,
irreverent,
sinful,
unholy,
profane,
blasphemous,
godless,
iniquitous,
ungodly,
irreligious,
unrighteous
Nearby words of
sacrilegious
sacrifice
sacrificial
sacrilege
sacrilegious
sacrosanct
sad
sadden
Synonyms of 'sacrilegious'
sacrilegious
Explore 'sacrilegious' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of irreligious
Definition
indifferent or opposed to religion
The priest's conversational style was regarded as most irreligious.